Synopsis

- Exceptional leadership opportunity with a diverse and impactful remit
- Champion a people-centred transformation agenda across the organisation
- Collaborate with an experienced and high-performing Executive Leadership Team

About The Role Situated on the traditional lands of the Bunurong Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples of the Kulin, Melbourne has long been considered one of the world's most liveable and prosperous cities and a thriving, successful example of multiculturalism and diversity. At the heart of this is the City of Melbourne (CoM), a proud organisation positioned to excel as a leading capital city by delivering what matters most to those who work, live, study, visit and invest here. Each day, we work with passion and purpose so that together we achieve incredible outcomes.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and working closely with the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), the Chief People Officer (CPO) will lead the strategic and operational delivery of the People portfolio during a pivotal period of organisational evolution and growth.

This executive role offers the opportunity to shape the future of work at CoM by developing and implementing contemporary, human-centred people strategies that enhance employee experience, organisational performance and community outcomes.

As a trusted advisor, the CPO will provide strategic advice to ELT, while fostering a high-performance, values-led culture built on accountability, collaboration, inclusion and customer-centric service delivery.

Key Responsabilities

- Lead the development and execution of CoM's people and culture strategy;
- Drive initiatives that enhance employee experience across the entire employee lifecycle;
- Partner with executive leaders to deliver contemporary people solutions aligned with organisational priorities;
- Strengthen organisational culture through leadership development, workforce capability building and employee engagement initiatives;
- Lead the organisation's safety, wellbeing and inclusion agenda, fostering a culture where physical and psychological safety are embedded in leadership, decision-making and everyday work practices.
- Lead the evolution of ways of working, organisational effectiveness and workforce transformation programs;
- Oversee employee relations, industrial relations and workforce governance activities;
- Champion diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging initiatives that reflect Melbourne's diverse community and stakeholders;




- Build and lead a high-performing People, Culture and Safety function focused on service excellence and continuous improvement.

Why join Team Melbourne? Located on the traditional lands of the Bunurong Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation, Melbourne is globally recognised as one of the most liveable, diverse, and dynamic cities. At the heart of it all is the City of Melbourne – a passionate, purpose-driven organisation where your work truly matters. As part of Team Melbourne, you will help deliver what is most important to the people who live, work, study, visit and invest in our great city.

We are proud champions of diversity, committed to continuous improvement, and driven by a shared vision for a vibrant and sustainable future.

This is more than just a role – it is your chance to make a real impact, contribute to something bigger, and shape Melbourne’s future alongside a collaborative and forward-thinking team.

About You

You are a progressive and highly accomplished People, Culture and Safety Executive with a proven track record of leading people strategy within complex organisations.

You will Bring

- Significant experience leading organisations through transformation, growth and change;
- A demonstrated ability to evolve contemporary people partnering models;
- Strong expertise in culture transformation, employee engagement and organisational development;
- Extensive experience leading employee and industrial relations strategies, negotiations and outcomes;
- A successful track record in developing leadership capability and creating high-performing teams;
- Outstanding stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, with credibility at executive and board levels;
- Solid commercial and strategic acumen, with the ability to align people outcomes to organisational performance;
- Experience within government, local government or the broader public sector (desirable, but not essential).

Benefits Of Working With Us

- Attractive remuneration & benefits: Excellent pay package with a range of exciting benefits. Flexible working, study assistance & other great corporate discounts.





- Excellent leave entitlements: Enjoy up to 20 weeks of fully paid parental leave for primary carers, in addition to the government-funded parental leave, with no waiting period to access. Part-time equivalents are also available for added flexibility.
- Career progression: Career development support and opportunities to learn new skills within a creative and exciting environment.
- Work-life balance and hybrid working: We support flexible hours, alternative work arrangements (like ADOs), and hybrid work-from-home options.

How To Apply

We'd love to hear how you can make an impact in this role! As part of your application, you will be required to:

- Attach your updated resume (max three pages)
- Include a cover letter (max one page) outlining your relevant experience and why you're a great fit for this role.

Submit your application no later than Wednesday 7 October 2026 at 11:45 PM. A few important things to note – don’t miss out!

- Applications must be submitted online.

Unfortunately, we can’t accept applications via email, so please be sure to apply through the official job link provided.

- Apply early! Applications are actively being reviewed throughout the advertising period, and we may close this advertisement before the listed closing date if we receive a sufficient number of suitable applications. To ensure you have the opportunity to be considered, we recommend submitting your application as soon as possible.

- We are a child safe organisation. The City of Melbourne has a zero tolerance for child abuse. All employees undergo thorough safety screening, including a Police Check and a Working with Children Check.

Need more info? Refer to the position description below or For a confidential discussion about the role, please contact Alexandra Yosifidis, Acting Chief People Officer, at [email protected] or Quetta Serradura, Acting Head of Talent and People Experience, at [email protected].

Inclusion matters

We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from all cultural and linguistic backgrounds, people with disabilities, LGBTIQA+ individuals, and people of all ages and faith backgrounds.

We provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to support all applicants. If you require any adjustments, please let us know via the application prompts or inform our Careers team if you’re contacted for an interview.

📌 Chief People Officer (Melbourne)
🏢 City Of Melbourne
📍 Melbourne